cabbages and mustards

genus Brassica

Member of mustard family (family Brassicaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for old historical records and extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

field mustard
Brassica rapa

see yellow mustards for a key to common mustards
stem 30–100 cm, simple or branched
basal leaves pinnately lobed, lateral lobes 2–4(6) pairs, terminal lobe obovate, wavy-dentate
middle and distal cauline leaves sessile, base lobed, generally clasping
pedicel erect
petals 6–11(13) mm
very common

brown mustard
Brassica juncea

stem 20–100 cm, branched distally
basal leaves early-diciduous, 5–100 cm, lateral lobes in 1–3 pairs
distal cauline leaves smaller, base tapered, not lobed
pedicel spreading to ascending
petals 9–13 mm
rare

cabbage, broccoli, and allies
Brassica oleracea

stem 50–100 cm, branched distally
leaves fleshy
basal leaves pinnately lobed, 5–75 cm
middle and distal cauline leaves sessile, base lobed or generally clasping
petals 18–25 mm
scattered near the coast, e.g. Wilder Ranch
some leaves may clasp the stem without encircling it

Toxicity of wild mustard (Brassica spp.):
0 – Non-toxic.

1 observed taxon / 2 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 3 (none are research grade)

Locations:

Coyote Creek Trail
Los Altos Hills, CA
Saratoga, CA

Months:

Feb.: 2
Mar.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora